Fears that the “exuberance” of Irish soccer fans might create negative publicity was one of the main reasons why the Government decided that Ireland’s qualification for the 1994 World Cup finals in the US should not be used to mount a campaign to promote the country. Newly released files from the National Archives show there was concern among senior civil servants that the antics of “boisterous but well-behaved” supporters of Jack Charlton’s team might be misunderstood. Confidential documents show consultants strongly recommended against using the tournament “as a vehicle for the promotion of Ireland".
Instead, they advised the Government that State agencies should target specific events such as the “corporate entertainment of carefully chosen executives.” The Irish ambassador in Washington, Dermot Gallagher, noted arguments against a major promotion of Ireland pegged to the World Cup included that the tournament would have relatively little impact on America in general. Mr Gallagher pointed out that matches would not receive a high level of TV coverage.
He also remarked: “While Irish soccer fans may be the best in the world, their (for us, normal) ‘exuberance’ could possibly attract some negative coverage from the US media.” The ambassador recognised that his staff would need to have arrangements in place to manage any problems with fans “quietly and effectively” as everything would be “monitored closely by the media". One note from an Irish d.